SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Wednesday was annual service day for Bishop Heelan Catholic School students. That means a lot of work from a lot of students, but success isn't always measured by the outcome.
Heelan seniors are looking past themselves and towards a higher purpose.
"We're giving back to the community through all the things that they give us," said Nick Yaneff.
"It's not just all about them. Giving back a little bit and making a better place to live, just all the way around," said Bryan Farris, Academic Resources Teacher.
As a part of Annual Service Day, 25 students, along with a teacher, rolled up their sleeves to do some work around a Carmelite Monastery in Sioux City.
There was a lot to do in little time. But that's what team work's for.
"We're basically just doing a lot of yard work today, tearing up tarps and tearing up dirt and rocks and stuff," said Andrew Mamanny.
"Teamwork is very important. If you tried this by yourself, you would fail big time," said Ruru Idahosa.
"It's not hard, like complex, but it's manual labor," said Seth Wiederhold.
No matter how much they got done, students agreed it wasn't necessarily what they did, but why they did it.
"We're just making their backyard where they live a better place to be," said Wiederhold.
"No matter how much you do, it's just doing something," said Yaneff.
And that is enough for someone else to be grateful.
"One of the sisters came and talked to us this morning, and she seemed very thankful. She was telling us that she prays for us all the time, that she really appreciates everything we're doing. And it felt like she meant it. It really felt heartfelt," said Mamanny.
Seniors weren't the only ones doing service work Wednesday, K-12 students from Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools volunteered all across the city.
Bishop Heelan Catholic School students clean up around Carmelite Monastery as part of service day.
